Valve accelerating device



Oct. 18, 1932. 1 v A. GRlMl-:s I 1,883,719

VALVE ACCELERATING DEVI CE Filled May 9; 195o '/A O NEYS sprinkler heads.

Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATE-NT; OFFICE LESTER A. GRIMES, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 GRIMES SPRINKLER COMPANY, INC., OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY VALVE ACCELERATING DEVICE Application led May 9, 1930. Serial. No. 450,945.

The present invention relates to accelerating devices of the type used in dry pipe sprinkler systems to cause rapid opening of the waterway upon opening of one or more The invention comprises a compact mechanism adapted to be formed integral with the clapper of a valve and operative to equalize the opposing pressures thereupon when the controlling pressure is reduced by a predetermined rate. The novel mechanism will be described as applied to a dry pipe sprinkler system, for which use it is particularly adapted, but it will be apparent that the device may be advantageously employed whenever it is desired to cause rapid opening of a valve. upon a decrease in the pressure normally maintaining the valve in closed position.

In dry pipe systems the waterway is ordinarily closed by two valves in series between which is an intermediate chamber open to the atmosphere when the valves are closed. Pressure in the sprinkler system acting on the surtacel of the relatively large upper valve maintainsl the valves closed against the greater water pressure actingzon the smaller lower valve. The accelerator of the present invention, unlike those heretofore'proposed or in use, is formed integral with the supporting structure of the clapper for the upper or air valve and does not necessitate an increased size of casing nor additional connections thereto. It is rapidly responsi-ve to pressure changes in the sprinkler system andprovides, in operation, a passage through the' air vcl'apper for the relief of pressure from the sprinkler system, Ythus avoiding Vthe delay which would occur if the sole relief for the pressure were through the sprinkler or sprinklers which happened to be opened. Moreover, the accelerator is so constructed that the presence of priming water in the valve casing does not interfere with `its operation.

For abetterunderstanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which the accelerator isV illustrated as applied to the type of dry pipe valve in which thev waterV and air clappers are mounted to rotate abouta single pivot, the

two clappers being mechanically connected to transmit pressure therebetween.

Referring to the drawing, the valve casing 1 is provided with an inlet chamber 2 adapted to be connected to the water supply pipe and an outlet'chamber 3 adapted to be connected to the sprinkler system. A clapper 4 and a seat 5 therefor close the inlet chamber 27 and a clapper 6 and seat 7 therefor close the outlet chamber 8. Between the seats 5 and 7 is the usual intermediate chamber 8 Asuitably connected to atmosphere as by a ball drip valvev (not shown) when the clappers 4 and 6 are seated.

The clapper 6 has formed integrally therewith a casing 9 within which are chambers 10, 11, 12v and 13. Chamber 10 is in direct communication with the outlet chamber 301i' the casing 1 by means of a relatively large 'aperture 14 adjacent the lowermost portion of casing 9. Chamber 13 is likewise in direct communication with chamber 3 means of the passage 15. The partition 16 between chambers 1() and 11 is provided, near the upper end thereof, with a threaded opening 17 yinto which is screwed a plug 18. Plug 1,8 has a restricted passage 19 therethrough serving to equalize the pressures in chambers 10 and 11 when the pressure in chamber 10 is constant, but preventing a change of pressure in chamber 10 from being felt immediately in chamber 11., Chambers 12 andl13 are l likewiseconnected by a restricted passage 20,

which passage serves to equalize the pressures in these chambers more rapidly than does passage 19 equalize the pressures between chambers 10 and 11, the sectional area of passage 20 being greater than that of passage 19. Between chambers 8 and 13 is a relatively large passage 21 normally closed by a valve 22. A member 23 provided with a tubular central extension 24 carrying the valve 22 is mounted integrally with a diaphragm 25 separating chambers 12 and 13. A valve 26, carried by an arm 27 pivotally mounted on member 237 normally shuts off communication between chambers 8 and 12 through the tubular extension 24. Chambers 11 and 12 are separated by a diaphragm 28fupon which is mounted a member 29 arranged to tion.

tip arm 27 in a direction to lift valve 26 when the pressure in chamber 11 exceeds that 1n chamber 12, member 29 being in engagement with a resilient lever 8O adapted to rotate lever 27 about its pivot upon movement of diaphragm 28.

In operation the casing 1 is ordinarily partially filled with priming water to a level substantially above that of seat 7 rlhe air trapped in chambers 10 and 11 will thus be ,compressed by the water entering chamber 10 through passage 14 until its pressure equals that in the dry pipe system acting upon the surface of the water in chamber 3. rlhe pressures in chambers 12 and 13 will likewise be equal to that in chamber 3. Valves 22 and 26 will thus be closed when the pressure in chamber 3 is substantially constant.

If a sprinkler head is opened in the dry pipe system, a reduction in pressure occurs almost immediately in chamber 3 and shortly thereafter in chamber 12, while the pressure in chamber 11 is substantially unaffected. Diaphragm 28 is moved toward chamber 12 by the unbalance of pressures thereupon and operates to open valve 26 putting chambers 12 and 8 into communication and thereby to cause the pressure in chamber 12 to approach that of the atmosphere. The pressures acting on diaphragm 25 are thus unbalanced and this diaphragm moves in a direction to open valve 22 and thereby to provide a direct passage through the air clapper 6 whereby the reduction of pressure in the dry pipe system is accelerated. There being now insufficient counter-balancing pressure upon the upper surface of the air clapper, the clappers 4 and 6 are opened by the pressure of the water in inlet pipe 2 and the water therein flows to the open sprinkler head or heads. The opening of the waterway above described is thus effected in a considerably shorter period of time than would be the case Aof the entire reduction in pressure within chamber 3 depended upon the flow of air through the open sprinkler head.

A preferred embodiment of the invention as used to cause rapid opening of the waterway of a dry pipe sprinkler system has now been described, but various changes could be made in the structure of the mechanism without departing from the spirit of the inven- Obviously the invention is not concerned with the particular structure of the dry pipe valve or valves with which the accelerating device may be associated, nor, in its broadest aspects, to use with dry pipe valve systems, as it may be advantageously employed wherever rapid equalization of pressures 1s desired.

rlhe following is claimed:

1. In combination with a casing having a clapper seat therein and a clapper normally maintained upon said seat by fluid pressure acting thereupon, means carried by said clapper and responsive to a rate of reduction of said fluid pressure tending when the rate of pressure reduction exceeds of predetermined value to equalize the pressures acting upon said clapper.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said clapper is provided with a passage therethrough and with a valve normally closing said passage, and wherein said clapper includes two chambers one in direct communication with the pressure fluid act ing upon said clapper, and one in restricted communication with said pressure fiuid, and movable means responsive to the differential in pressure between said chambers adapted to control said valve to open the same upon an increase in said pressure diderential due to a rate of decrease in the pressure acting upon said clapper.

3. In combination with a dry pipe valve comprising a casing divided into inlet, outlet and intermediate chambers by water and air valves, means carried by the clapper for said air valve and responsive to the pressure in said outlet chamber tending, upon a predetermined rate of reduction in said pressure, to equalize the pressuresin said outlet and said intermediate chambers.

4. In combination with a valve casing and a valve therein normally maintained closed by fluid pressure acting upon the upper side thereof, a device carried by the movable member of said valve including two chambers separated by a pressure responsive membrane, means for transmitting fluid under pressure from the upper side of said valve to each of said chambers at relatively different rates, said device including a passage from one of said chambers leading through the other side of said valve, a closure for said passage adapted to be opened by movement of said membrane, and means controlled by the rate of reduction of pressure in said last mentionedchamber dueto opening of said passage adapted to open a passageway directly through said valve for the relief of pressure from the upperside thereof.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said casing above said valve is adapted to hold priming water and wherein said device is so constructed as to make in accessible to the priming water that onerof said chambers adapted to receive fluid pressure at the lower rate. Y Y

6. rljhe combination according to claim 4 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a valve carried by a diaphragmsubjected to the pressure in said last mentioned chamber and to the pressure acting upon the movable member of said first mentioned valve.

7. In al dry pipe sprinkler system, a casing divided by water and air clappers into an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber and an intermediate chamber, and adapted to hold priming water in said outlet chamber, an accelerating device for said clappers including a diaphragm within said air clapper, means for transmitting pressure changes from said system at a restricted rate to one side of said diaphragm constructed to prevent access of water thereto, means for transmitting pressure changes from said system to the other side of said diaphragm at a relatively less restricted rate, means controlled by said diaphragm for rapidly exhausting the fluid acting on the latter side thereof into said intermediate chamber, said device including also a passage through the air clapper and a closure therefor adapted to be Opened upon rapid reduction of the pressure acting on the latter side of said diaphragm.

8. The accelerating device according to claim 7 wherein the controlling means for said closure include a second diaphragm responsive to the pressure acting upon said latter side of said rst mentioned diaphragm and responsive to the pressure acting upon said air clapper.

9. The accelerating device according to claim 7 wherein the first-named means includes a chamber in free communication with said outlet chamber only below the normal level of the priming water and in restricted communication with the first-mentioned side of said diaphragm at a level substantially higher than that at which the said chambers are in free communication, whereby air is trapped within said chamber and prevents access of water to said side of said diaphragm.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

LESTER A. GRIMES.

CERTINCATE or connection.

Patent No. 1,883,719. October 18, 1932.

LESTER A. GRIMES.

1t is hereby certified that error oppenrs in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction es follows: Page 2, line 44, for "o" read "i"; and line 68, claim i, for "of" second occurrence, read "a"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of November, A.. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

